Empire Roasters & Records — Restaurant in Seattle

I have struggled a bit with writing this review. Columbia City is such a small and tight-knit community with so many locally owned businesses, I never try to leave a negative review, especially after only one negative interaction. However Empire has been so hit and miss over the years and this one particular interaction put me over the edge. Since coffee is handmade over there, it's definitely been variable. I have gotten some of the worst drinks I've ever tasted there, literal loose coffee grounds floating around in multiple iced drinks, and like a lot of coffee grounds, and way more than once, and occasionally I think shots have been missed and forgotten or the coffee has tasted bad and sour. Just very off drinks. But I've honestly also gotten some of my favorite drinks I've ever had from this location too, but after the negatives started to outweigh the good I sort of stopped going. It stopped being just an occasional fluke, and most of the coffee started tasting bad. I have instead been frequenting the new locally owned shop around the corner instead.

The other day, I decided to mix things up and try Empire again, especially because one of their signature drinks used to be my favorite. Due to the social distancing protocol they are only allowing one person inside, and that is totally understandable. It was a nice day and I waited in line. I watched the barista make coffee and small talk with the other customers in front of me, they seemed to be particularly friendly with a couple guests, maybe they where regulars, but they chatted for a while after coffees where made. Again, completely cool. Then when I get in I ordered my drink and took a quick glance at the items on the shelf that where for sale. They had what looked like growlers of chai tea sitting out on the shelves, how interesting. I know every company is trying to offer different products and services during this time.

So I enquired if they sold growlers of chai tea. The person working scoffed at me like I was completely stupid for being curious about that, then they explained that's how their chai tea is delivered, and they don't sell it like that. Apparently while I was ordering their chai tea supplier had also shown up. There was a person with a dolly full of boxes waiting outside.

The barista then points to the person outside and told me "The person who delivers our chai tea is actually here waiting outside, and they are just waiting for you to leave so they can come in and deliver it".

Honestly I felt so unvalued as a customer, the baristas tone was rude and annoyed. When at that point they hadn't even made my drink, I had only ordered and paid and was just waiting. I was not even really making small talk like all the other customers had, but showing interest in a product I thought might be for sale. I felt rushed, and like I was being pushed out of the shop, like my service wasn't even wanted. I felt like I was being treated like a loiter, even though the product I had ordered wasn't even ready yet, I had no where else to go while I waited for my coffee. I waited patiently for everyone in front of me, the wait was about 15 minutes, I thought I would be treated decently when my turn was up. Plus the delivery person must have just gotten there, since they where definitely not on line behind me, I was the last person in line of what I assumed was the lunch rush.

I guess after all the years of subpar coffee, this interaction it what pushed me over the edge and warranted a negative review. And the coffee also wasn't the greatest. I will definitely take my business elsewhere in the future, and would recommend the same for other...

⭐☆☆☆☆

I used to love this place, but my most recent experience was very disappointing.

I brought my fully vaccinated kitten in a secure carrier — not loose, not near anyone’s food or the floor — and was told I could not stay inside because of “code.” Meanwhile, dogs are welcomed freely in the café, even to the point of shaking fur into my food while I was eating in the past. They even provide dog treats, so clearly dogs are allowed, but cats (safely contained in carriers) are not.

What hurts the most is that I’ve never had this problem before. Every other employee I’ve met here has been so sweet and welcoming. My dog has always been allowed inside, and no one has ever complained. Today was the first time I met these particular employees, and I felt like they singled me and my family out. This was the first time I’ve been able to bring my whole family to enjoy my favorite coffee stand, and instead we were told to sit outside in the cold rain — next to a bag of dog waste.

On top of that, the bagel I was served was unappetizing and poorly prepared. For a place I’ve supported and enjoyed for years, this experience was terrible and left me feeling unwelcome.

If dogs are allowed inside, then a cat in a closed carrier should not be a problem. I won’t be coming back. For anyone looking for better coffee and a more consistent, respectful atmosphere, I recommend Olympia Coffee on Rainier...

I have been going to Empire for over 3 years now. It has been my favorite coffeeshop for a long time, but after my experience today I will not be returning. I am so disappointed in the service from a staff that, in the past, has always been kind and accommodating. My friend and I went today to grab coffee and she forgot to ask for her drink iced. When the drink came out hot, I asked if they could ice it due to the mistake. The employee working told me they couldn't ice it, they would have to remake it, and because it wasn't rung in as hot my friend would have to repurchase the drink. I have never, ever been to a coffeeshop where if a drink was intended to be iced and came out hot, that the barista would not remake it. I was so shocked she said that I almost did not even know what to say. She did not even give us ice for us ourselves to ice it down. Was it her mistake in forgetting to ask for it iced? Yes. But for two very consistent customers (over the course of years), it would have been nice for the barista to give us some grace and remake the drink. This has been a remarkable way to ruin an afternoon and made us feel quite dejected. I felt the entire conversation was rude and unbelievable. I am so disappointed in the service and I will not...